Most Bible readers (from my generation and the generations in the centuries before mine) will likely say what struck them when the first read the scriptures was all those "begats". Some people will skip over verses, even whole chapters if they see that word. The word "begat" usually connects a string of names that are very difficult to pronounce.
For me, one of things noted when turning the pages of the Old Testament starting with Genesis and working my way to the Revelation was all those "ites". The names for the inhabitants of different ancient nations.
Hittites, Asherites, Jebusites, Amorites, Amakelites, Girgashites, Moabites, Perizzites, Canaanites, and of course, Israelites.
Then it changed from "ites" to "ans".
Syrians, Assyrians, Babylonians, Persians, Romans.
Suffixes in the English language:
* ite = follower or supporter
* an = pertaining to
* ian = belonging toBelonging to? Hmmm? Like Christians?
Yes. Only Christ is not a nation. Christianity and the gospel message of peace and goodwill is not restricted by man-made boundaries. But it's an observation as to how the suffixes were used by the scholarly translators.
JAT. (Just a thought.) :)
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If my view were a "theory", the histomap would have thoroughly disproved it. Alas. It's not a theory. It's just a thought. :)
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